I have Lamiastrum galobdeon with the yellow flower spikes. It can be incredibly invasive given enough moisture. And it is not easy to pull as it roots at every node. We have about an acre of it covering our leach bed. It is beginning to escape down into the woods which concerns me as it will choke out everything in its path. The newer hybrid lamiums might be less invasive but I would start with a small amount and keep an eye on it. Here are less invasive species for groundcover in shade European Ginger Canadian Ginger Solomons Seals - there are many types Epimediums dwarf hostas - if you want a truly dense groundcover this will do it. Just keep dividing and replanting every 2-3 yrs. Hellebores - if your soil is nicely mulched and organic to start with they reseed with a vengeance. I have hundreds of seedlings this yr to replant into the woods. lily of the valley - takes anything you throw at it. Will be more dense if more moisture but weeds don't grow in it because the roots are interconnected and kind of webby. Astilbe pumila Chinensis Lady fern - a beautiful groundcover even for dry areas Sensitive Fern Christmas fern - an evergreen daylilies - use dwarfs Pulmonaria - one of my favorites - no weeds will grow in this once it gets going and it can take drought once established Filipendula ulmaria Aurea - bright yellow foliage Hardy geraniums - the pale pinks require less light Brunnera Comfrey Sweet Woodruff Tiarella's Some various grasses - do a search Carex species - can't be wet in winter so plant them in little mounds if your soil is heavy or wet Oenothera - the yellow sundrops - watch out they reseed easily but can be pulled easy - are a pretty, clear yellow - can take high shade Monarda Jacob Kline - I never would have known this could take so much shade except it seeded itself at the edge of the woods and does fine - more moisture makes it grow faster. - likes drainage. This is also true for Becky Daisy and Rudbeckia - Black eyed Susans. You'd be surprised how much shade they can take and still bloom heavily. Other invasives are lirope and sometimes ajuga. I use ajuga all over my place and in some areas it spreads and others I have to keep replanting it - so depends on conditions. Liriope can be hard as heck to remove but its super effective as a dense groundcover if you can keep it in bounds. Less moisture slows it down. Euonymous - I use a green and white variegated and also a green and yellow variegated that stay low to the ground. They will spread more in more light but they do offer nice evergreen foliage. Vinca is a nice shiny green leaf with purple flowers in spring. The downside to vinca in my opinion is that it roots a little sparsely and can let weeds grow thru it. The upside to that is that you can interplant spring bulbs in it and they aren't choked out. I let various columbines, Dames Rocket ( Hesperis matronalis) and a purple malva go to seed all over my shade gardens and then just remove what I didn't like after they bloom. They are all easy to pull with one hand. Never under any circumstances except a buried 3 foot deep pot should you plant Houttuynia - chameleon plant, any mints, bamboos, chives, lemon balm, Chasmanthium - seeds heavily, Feasy grass and Campanula Cherry Bells. I have chocolate mint in a giant pot that I just keep at an edge because its fun to walk by and smell it - but would never plant it out unless it was bounded by cement. Finally - the Lychnis family can be very very invasive and it runs very quickly - doubling and quadruping in size geometrically depending on how much moisture and light. The plant called Gooseneck is an example. I planted it a wet area by the driveway because I don't think it can get away there - but if it starts to move into some other groundcovers I will use RoundUp on it - it has to be dug out with a shovel and fills right back in in a few weeks - thats how happy it is. Come to think of it - watch all the Persicaria's also. I planted a cutting 4 yrs ago and it is all over my property now - it reseeds vigorously. I treat it as a weed now.

This is my first time on the seed exchange and Looking to trade some of my flower and veggie seeds for either Stinging Nettle or Comfrey seeds to make a foul smelling tea as an additive to my vegetable patch. I have been reading a lot about the beneficial aspects of both plants and and willing to try growing it in the back of my garden. Thanks and I am willing to send a SASE.

" Land wise, I think you'er at a higher elevation, so the sun's ray's penetrate your thick forests better. " I am at sea level, or just a few feet above. And considerably farther north than you so the sun's rays are actually at a much lower angle. Regardless of my circumstances, most literature confirms that the preferred habitat of Urtica dioica is raparian woodlands or moist 'open' forest so that also contradicts your statement that it "doesn't do well in shade". The plant in question is a nettle. I am not sure the exact species is that necessary to confirm but if so, the consensus seems to be dioicus. "Unless someone is monitoring a site all season it's kind of silly to judge whether some plant is perennial or not " I have no idea how this relates to the discussion at hand. A plant is either a perennial or it's not. It is not judgement call, silly or not.

Having been on or having led more than a few guided walks, I know how many people struggle to ID more than a dandelion. While the 3 plants don't confuse any of the regulars here, it would be more than many Americans could handle with regards to identification because as a whole they just don't know, nor do they care to, much about plants. The people asking and answering here being marked exceptions in interest and knowledge. Personally, I can see where it would be confusing for some as they are plants of similar habit (low and weedy) plus very close bloom times and flower color. In fact, all three bloom at the same time in my gardens often side by side. ;)